These blog posts are short, daily ideas on reading deeply, taking notes, and applying the ideas. Each post is written by Eddy Hood with the goal of encouraging readers to pick up a book in favor of technology.
I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Junot Díaz, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao and several acclaimed short story collections. During our conversation, something he said resonated deeply with me. When I asked him for advice on improving our reading skills, I expected a detailed system—perhaps a dailyContinue reading Pick Books That are Right for You
Looking at my bookshelves, I often feel a mix of excitement and overwhelm. Choosing the next book to read isn’t always easy, and I’ve learned that being in the right mental space is crucial for enjoying a book. If my mind isn’t ready, I might end up disliking a book that could otherwise be aContinue reading 3 Ideas for Managing Your TBR List
We think about practicing the piano, a foreign language, and our golf swing. We obsess over practicing yoga, public speaking, and the game of chess. But what about focus itself? How do you practice that? It’s the one thing most people in this community want to improve. My answer is reading. Think about it. IfContinue reading Practice The Art of Focus
Sunday works for me. It’s a chance to disassociate from everything and reset my reading. All week long, I’ve been reading for other people including clients, employees, teachers, and my kids. Some days, I feel like I’ve read for eight hours straight, and none of it has been beneficial. Well, I shouldn’t say that, butContinue reading Reset Your Reading on Sundays
We often approach reading books like we do riding elevators: we step in, see someone else, avoid eye contact, and wait for it to be over. If there’s conversation, it seldom goes beyond a polite, “How are you?” Now, imagine stepping in and having a real conversation. Who is that other person? What makes themContinue reading Stop Reading on Elevators
I’m feeling a little cheeky today, so we’re going to start up a fun conversation. When you die, what’s the one book that goes in your coffin with you? Answer in the comment section below. That’s right! You only get to pick one book. You don’t get four or five options. Why? Because coffins areContinue reading What Book Goes in Your Coffin?
I’ve been working hard to free up some mental space, and I didn’t realize just how mentally, emotionally, and physically tired I was. It’s strange, but we’re like sticky tumbleweeds rolling along, picking up everything we touch. We carry that stuff with us all day, every day. Eventually, we get so bogged down with worry,Continue reading Free Up Mental Space (A Stoic Trick)
Quick reminder. Pulitzer Prize author Junot Díaz will be on The Read Well Podcast this morning! I’ll be interviewing him about the importance of literature, how to improve as a reader and more. If you’re a member of my book club, then you have access to these live events and can join me as anContinue reading Junot Díaz Interview Starting Soon
I’m thrilled to share that I’m in discussions with a world-class roastery to create exclusive coffee and tea blends for Edgewater Bookstore! As we gear up for our grand opening, one of our standout offerings will be a beautifully designed, environmentally friendly line of coffee and tea. Here’s what I’m envisioning for our initial mix.Continue reading Your Input Needed: Edgewater Bookstore’s New Coffee and Tea Line
I’ve gone back to school to get a degree in philosophy, and I’m shocked at how my brain is playing games with me. I have to constantly have to remind myself that I’m doing this for the knowledge – not the grade. For some reason, if I focus on getting an A, I approach theContinue reading Don’t Read This Way